Magneto ignition system.



J. M. DINKINS & P. B. HAYS.

I MAGNETO IGNITION SYSTEM. I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, mos.

. 1,074,416 Patentedfiept. 30,1913.

'2 SEEMS- HEET 1.

n/ w ITNESS Es; M 1v VEN Tr) R0" ,5 /J.' m 1 Jofin/V. D/nA /hsf 151.0110; 15. figs,

h my J.- M. D'INKINS 6: P B, HAYS.

MAGNETO IGNITION SYSTEM .v

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 6; 1908.

Patented Sept. 30, v1913.

2' SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I hvvEzvraffJ m w N "J hn M. 01111 kins UNITED STATES JOHN- DlNKlNs AN-D FRANKLIN B; HAYS, OF INDIANAIEOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIG-NORS OF EIGHT-FIFTEEN-TH$ T WILLIAM I2. TAYLOR, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

PATENT OFFICE.

MAGQNETO IGNITION SYSTEM.

United States, residing at. Indianapolis, in i the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain. new and. useful Ian- 'provements in Magneto Ignition Systems,

of which the following is. a specification.

This inigention relates to improvements in. magnetos which are intended to generate a.- spark to explode-the charge in an internal combustion engine, or for like purposes and the. magneto. shown in the drawings and hereinafter to be particularly described. isspecially adapted to four-cylinder engines for automobiles, launches, etc., but with diflerent gear connections andv Wiring may be adapted to useon. engines. with a greater or. less number of cylinders- As magnetos. generating a high-tension spark are easily. affected as arule by moisture, dirt, oil. and other elements to Whichthey are exposed oneof the objects of our invention. is to. provide a; machine which will be water, dust and: oil proof.

' Another. object is to provid .a machine which maybe positivelygeared to the roe tating. parts of the en ine thereby insuring a; spark at the proper t me in relation to the movement of the pistons. n

Another object of our invention is to manually control. the time of. the spark. to.

throttle the engine and: utilize the combustible material entering the engine to best advantage without shiftingthe magnetic field of force of the magnets in relation.

tothe position of, the armature-,andtopnovide pole-ends forming an integral; extenv sion, of the-magnet so as to add to the chi- .ciency of the latter.

Another. object. of. ourinvention. is to provide a. machine which is readily accessible, the magnetoiprpper being easily disconnected from its base and; its inner working parts all. self-contained. so as to be readily slipped out ofthe shell in which they are mounted.

Another.- object of the invention is to.

provide means for. transforming-a direct current from aseparate set.- of batteries'into an alternating current and permit. the battery current to pass through the magneto at low speed. to give sufficient. spark for starting and running :at low spel d, and to provide automatic means 'forf connecting- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June. 5, 1808. Serial No. 436,963.

Patented Sept.3O ,.1-9I3.

and disconnecting the battery current to meet the requirements. of the running speed of the magneto and. engine.

e accomplish. the objects of our invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- 'tiorrof our improved. magneto. Fig. 2 a transverse section. on. the line 2-2 of Fig. .1. Fig. 3 is a diagram'showing the external wiring between our magneto and sup plementary batteries. and between the magneto and sparking-plugs of the engine. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line it--41 of Fig.1, and Fig. 5 is a detail. insection in a plane longitudinally ofthe mag neto, through the commutator. I

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings Referring; to Fig. 1 of the drawing, 8 represents the cylindrical body-portion of. our machine to. the ends of which are secured. the external end caps 9 and inside partition and; cap 10 in. which. the rotative' partsare journaled. The armature is mounted on the shaft 12.. The shaft 12 projects outside ofthe cap 9. and mounted thereon. is. the gear-wheel 15 which meshes ,with acornesponding gear on the engine proper. (Not. shown.) Between the gear 15 and the. armature and approximately near. the end of. the cap 9 is a commutator which. will hereinafter be more fully described; Mounted on the shaft, that is forming an expanded portionof the shaft, is. a. drum.17 within which is mounted the condenser 18 of usual and well known construction. The drum 1? is cylindrical in collector *ring 19 which is insulated fromis comprised Tpfa series of laminated soft iron. plates 21 whichare thus used for thewell known purpose of reducing the heat tendencies ofthe armature' These lamisoft-iron members 22 and the assembled. parts areunited by means of the screw- .bolts 23 in the manner shown-in Fig. 1. he plates 21' and members 2 thus unitedaremo-unted between end-plates 24 and 25, preferably of brass, into which the ends of the divided shaft=12 are secured. The-lamie na-ted plates. 21 and endflmembers 22 comshape and surrounding it is the annular.

Figure l is a. longitudinal: central secthe drum by insulation 20. .The armature nations 21 are assembled between the larger struction in the matter of their shape and in the location and arrangement of their poleends. The magnet is preferably of the laminated type and is here shown in three sections which are separated by means of insulation 31. The main body portions of the laminated members are cylindrical in shape and fit snugly within the bore of the outside cylinder 8. The three laminated members areassembled between outside plates and are retained in position by means of bolts 34 passing through the plates 33 and the space between the magnets and their pole-ends. It will be noted that a considerable space exists between the magnet-bodies 33 and the rotary armature which armature is located and rotates around the center or axial l ne of themagnet. As shown in Fig. 2 the pole-ends 85 of the magnets are curved into integral extensions which are located in the space between the cylindrical ma gnetsand the armature. These pole-ends are suitably separated from the body of the magnets, except at their connections 37, with the magnet, and are curved to conform properly tothe shape and rotary travel of the ar mature. By making our magnet of the cylindrical form here shown, we are able to bring it within the compass of the cylindrical body or shell 8, and by this cylindrical shape, in connection with the extensions of the pole-ends around the armature in the space between the latter and the cylindrical magnets, we are able to obtain a magnet equal in-length to that which is regarded as the standard of efliciency in other types of magnetos, which could not otherwise be done in the limited space to which we are confined by ourcylindricalconstruction. We

are also able, by this construction of a magnet and ole-ends, to make both arts in one piece and so establish the field 0 force as to conform to the rotary travel of the armature. The commutator is in the circuit'of batteries, which are used to reinforce the "i" n grounded This circuit breaker is shown attached to the end-plate 24 of the armature by means of the screw 40 andcomprises a pair of terminal plates 41 and 42-. The plate 41 is insulated from thescrew 40 and the machine. The terminal 42 is a spring-acting plate which normally contacts with the end of plate 41. The plate 41 is one terminal of the primary winding 26.

The terminals 41 and 42 are carried around by rotary movement of the armature and the end of the plate 42 is bent to contact with the two diametrically opposed knobs 43 on the adjacent end plate 33 of the magnets 30, whereby said knobs, by contact with the end of plate 42, will force that plate out from plate 41 so as to break the contact between the terminals 41 and 42, thus generating an induced current in the secondary winding 27. One terminal of the condenser 18 is connected with the terminal plate 41 and the other terminal of the condenser is grounded thereby making a bridge over the spark-gap formed by the separation of terminal plates 41 and 42 when separated by the projections 43. The induced current generated in the secondary windingv is transmitted to the wire 44, to the collector ring 19, and thence through the brush 45 and through wire 46 to the brush 47 mounted in-the end cap 48 at the other end of the machine. The brush 47 is in electrical contact with a metal cap 50 which is part of a rotary distributer. The metal cap 50 carries a brush 51 which is brought into .contact with suitably curved conducting plates 52 located in the path of said brush .51. The plates 52 are supported by the walls of the cap 48 and are suitably insulated therefrom as shown. As seen in Fig. 4 there are four conducting plates 52 arranged equi-distant around the inner circumference of the cap 48, and these plates are connected with binding posts 53 to which wires 54 are attached. As shown in Fig. 3, the wires 54 are'connected with sparking plugs 55 in theeXplosion chamber of the engine.

The cap 50. of the distributer is carried by the insulation 56 on the end of the shaft 57. The shaft 57 is mounted on suitable ball-bearings 58 in the end of the cap 10,

and mounted within the cap 10 on the end of the shaft 57 is the wheel 60 having side teeth which mesh with the teeth of an intermediategear 61. The intermediate gear 61 is loosely mounted on the shaft 62, which shaft is supported by the cap 10and will preferably be mounted on ball-bearings as shown. The intermediate gear 61 is rotated by the gear 64 mounted on the adjacent end of the shaft 12; The relation of the gear.64 with the gear .60 is such that the gear 64 will make two revolutions to each single revolution of the-gear 60. The armature gencrates two electric impulses at each. revolution and in order to furnish a spark to four 'Fig. 8 w

cylinders it is obviously necessary that the .distributer travel half as fast as the armature. Hence the relation between the gears 64: and 60 as-above stated. As the magneto instarting and running at a low speed will with the current-flow generated by the armature. This is accomplished by the intro-,

duction of a two-piece commutator, which alternately reverses the polarity of the battery current as the current ,is transmitted into the armature. One of the pieces is'represented at 5 and the other at 6, 'Figs. 1 and 5. As shown in Fig. 5, the shaft 12 is provided with a metal sleeve having aniannular outside end flange wit-h oblique inner wall. The opposite end of the sleeve is screw-threaded to receive the nut 76, said nut having an oblique inner wall forming with theflange at the opposite end of the sleeve, a dove-tailed recess to engage and hold a correspondingly shaped portion of the two commutator parts 5 and 6. The

parts 5 and 6 are insulated from thesleeve 75 and nut/T6 by suitable insulation 77, and the two parts 5 and 6 are insulated from each other. The width of the insulation is more than the diameter of the brush to prevent the making of a short circuit by the brush. The member 6 of the commutator is grounded by the wire connection 7 8 as shown in Fig. 5. ires from the batteries connect with binding posts 81 supported by the cap 9 and these bindingposts also carry the brushes 82 which contact with the commutafor parts 5 and 6. The member 5 of the commutator carries and is electrically connected with the terminal plate 84, and mounted on the shaft 12 and insulated therefrom is the spring terminal plate having its outer end bent in a direction longitudinally of shaft 12 and provided with a weight 86. On the other side of the terminal plate 85 from terminal 84 is the terminal plate 87 which is electrically connected with the shaft 12. By the rapid rotation of shaft- 12 the terminal plate 85 will be moved centrifugally out of contact with the terminal 84 andinto contact with the terminal 87 thereby automatically cutting out the battery at a predetermined speed of the armature which is regulated by the weight 86. The terminal plate 85 is connected by a wire 90 with the primary winding 26 of the armature.

windings on said The control of the time of the spark previously referred to as necessary to regulate the engine and utilize to best advantage combustible material entering the cylinders of the engine is accomplished manually by moving the magnets 30 in a rotary direction within its case by means of lever 92 which is con- .nected with the magnet and extends outside of case 8, through a slot therein of appropriate length, to Within reach of the operator. The control of the spark is thusprovided for;

93 represents the base on which our ma-.

chine is mounted. It has standards 9-7 which are shaped to conform to the cylindrical sides of the body 8 and said standards have a dowel-pin 98 to enter a suitable hole'in the cylinder 8. A metal strap 96 has one end attached to the base 93 and passing thence around the body 8 is fastened to a nut on bolt 94. Thebolt 94 is supported by the base and has a projecting squared end 99 for the attachment of a key or wrench by means of which the bolt will be rotated thereby impartinga travel to nut 95 which will cause the strap 96 to be correspondingly loosened or tightened. Themagneto proper is thusvery'easily disconnected from its base by thus loosening the metal strap 96, and the inner working parts of the magnetomay be readily slipped outof the shell by unscrewing the brass end 9.

Having thus fully describedour invention What we claim as new and wish to secure by.;.Letters Patent of the United States, is

1'. An electric spark producing apparatus comprising a generator, a rotating armature therefor, primary and secondary armature, an external source of current, means for-connecting said external source of current with said primary winding, and.a commut-ating device in circuit with said external source to periodically change the polarity of said armature when the winding thereof is traversed by said external current.

2. In an electric spark producing apparatus, a generator comprising a rotating armature having a primary and secondary winding, an external source of current, and

'means for coupling said external current to the primary winding of said armature, said means including means adapted to change t-he'polarity of said externalcurrent to conform to the polarity; of the current generated in said primary winding, whereby the'current in said primary Windihg is augmented by said external current and the induced current in said secondary winding maintainbd of a sufficient powerto pro: since an efficient spark, substantially as set torth.

3. An electric spark producing apparatus comprising a generator including an armatrue having a primary and secondary winding, an external source of current, and means for connecting said external source of current to the primary winding of saidarmature, including means for changing the polarity of' said external current to conform to the'polarity of the current generated in said 1: 'mary winding, whereby the current in said primaiy 'winding is augmented by said external current, and the induced. current in said secondary winding maintained of sufilcient power to produce an efiicient spark, substantially as set forth.

4. An electric spark producing apparatus comprising a generator including a. rotating armature having a primary and secondary winding, an external source of current, and

means controlled by the speed of the rotating armature for coupling said external source of current to the primary-winding of said armature and changing the polarity of said external current to contain to the polarity of the current generated in said primary winding, whereby when the speed of said rotating armature falls below that necessary to produce the, necessary current for an eflicient spark in the secondary winding said current will be augmented and maintained at such efiiciericy, substantially as set forth.

5. In a magneto-generator, a cylindrical case, a permanent magnet conforming in shape to the cylindrical case and mounted therein, an armature rotating about an axis which is at the center of said magnets, said armature having primary and secondary windings, an external source of current, and

means for traversing the windings of the.

armature by said external current to change the polarity of thearmature.

6. In a magneto-generator, a cylindrical case, a permanent laminated magnet conforming in shape to the cylindrical case and snugly mounted therein, an armature in laminated sections rotating around an axis which axis .is' also .the center of the annular magnets, said armature having primary and. v

seoondarywindings, an externalsource of current, and means for trayersing the wind- 7. In a magneto-generator, a cylindrical case, a permanent magnet conforming in shape to the cylindrical case and mounted.

therein, an armature rotating around an axis which s at the centerof said magnets,

row acre said magnets having integral pole-ends formed on reverse arcs of smaller radius than the magnet body and located between the magnet body and the armature, said armature having primary and secondary windings, an external source of current,.and means for traversing the windings of the armature by said external current to change speed of the latter.

9. The combination in a magneto, of permanent magnets, an armature, an auxiliary battery electrically connected ,with the armature, a two-piece commutator between the battery and the armature for converting the direct current of the battery into an alternating current, and'means fonfpassing the alternating current through the magneto at low speed ofthe latter and for cutting it ofl' automatically at high speed.

10. The combination, in a magneto, of permanent magnets, an. armature, an auxiliary battery electrically connected with the armature, means for converting the direct current of the batteryinto an alternating current and a. switch between the said conyerting means andthe armature, said switch rotating with the armature shaft and having aweighted terminal plate adapted to break the circuit by the centrifugal operation of said terminal plate at a predetermined speed',

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 29thdayof May,- A. D. one thousand nine hundred and eight.

. JOHN'M. DINKINS. [Ls] VVit-n'esses:

' F. W. WOERNER,

L B WOEBNER.

In witness whereof, I, have hereunto set 'my hand'and seal at La Fayette, Indlana,

this first day of June, A." D. one thousand nine hundred and eight.

' FRANKLINB. Witnesses:

ERNST HArcrs, Gr. A. KIENLY.

c0 31" 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by'addressing the. Commissioner of latents,

' vWashington, D. 6." 

